Locking apparatus with sensor for a folding top

Abstract

A locking apparatus for a folding top of a vehicle includes a housing, a locking hook, a coupling device, a driving apparatus, and a sensor. The locking hook has a gripping end and a bearing end. The coupling device is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the locking hook. The bearing end is movably mounted to the coupling device to be horizontally adjustable with the coupling device in the longitudinal direction of the locking hook between closed and opened positions. The driving arm drives the locking hook to move the locking hook between the closed and opened positions. The sensor is configured to sense when the locking hook is in the closed and opened positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A locking apparatus for a folding top of a vehicle, the locking apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 a locking hook having a gripping end and a bearing end; 
 a coupling device movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the locking hook; 
 wherein the bearing end is movably mounted to the coupling device to be horizontally adjustable with the coupling device in the longitudinal direction of the locking hook between closed and opened positions; 
 a driving apparatus having a driving arm and a crank mechanism, wherein the crank mechanism has a crank that is arranged eccentric to an axis of rotation and is rotationally adjustable around the axis of rotation, wherein the crank is connected with the driving arm such that the crank actuates the driving arm while rotating around the axis of rotation, wherein the driving arm is configured to drive the locking hook to move the locking hook between the closed and opened positions upon the driving arm being actuated by the crank; and 
 a sensor configured to cooperate with the crank mechanism to sense when the locking hook is in the closed and opened positions. 
 
     
     
       2. The locking apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the crank mechanism further includes a crank plate that is rotationally adjustable around the rotation axis, wherein the crank is mounted on the crank plate; 
 wherein the sensor includes a switching gate arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the crank plate and first and second switches arranged on the housing fixed in position at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction of the crank plate; 
 wherein the switching gate actuates the first switch when the locking hook is in the closed position and actuates the second switch when the locking hook is in the opened position. 
 
     
     
       3. The locking apparatus of  claim 2  wherein:
 the switching gate is mounted axially on the crank plate. 
 
     
     
       4. The locking apparatus of  claim 2  wherein:
 the switching gate has an outer contour between first and second peripheral ends; 
 wherein the first peripheral end actuates the first switch when the locking hook is in the closed position and the second peripheral end actuates the second switch when the locking hook is in the opened position. 
 
     
     
       5. The locking apparatus of  claim 4  wherein:
 the peripheral ends transform into the outer contour by respective ramp contours. 
 
     
     
       6. The locking apparatus of  claim 4  wherein:
 the outer contour is offset coaxially and radially inwardly compared to an outer contour of the crank plate. 
 
     
     
       7. The locking apparatus of  claim 4  wherein;
 the peripheral ends are radially flush with the crank plate. 
 
     
     
       8. The locking apparatus of  claim 2  wherein:
 the driving arm is located vertically above the switching gate when the locking hook is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       9. The locking apparatus of  claim 2  wherein:
 the driving arm is mounted pivotably on the crank around a vertical pivot axis and the driving arm has a nose that protrudes radially with respect to the vertical pivot axis; 
 wherein the housing includes a stop; 
 wherein the nose of the driving arm rests against the stop of the housing when the locking hook is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       10. The locking apparatus of  claim 9  wherein:
 the switching gate includes a recess on an inner contour facing toward the axis of rotation into which the nose of the driving arm dips into when the locking hook is in the opened position. 
 
     
     
       11. The locking apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the driving apparatus includes a two-bar linkage, wherein the driving arm is connected with the two-bar linkage; 
 wherein the two-bar linkage has a front control arm and a rear control arm, wherein the front control arm is pivotably mounted to the housing around a front vertical pivot axis, wherein the rear control arm is connected with the bearing end of the locking hook through the coupling device and is pivotably mounted on the coupling device around a rear vertical pivot axis; 
 wherein the control arms of the two bar-linkage are pivotably mounted to one another between their axes of rotation around an intermediate vertical pivot axis; 
 wherein the driving arm is pivotably mounted to one of the control arms between the pivot axes of the control arms around another vertical axis of rotation. 
 
     
     
       12. A locking apparatus for a folding top of a vehicle, the locking apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 a locking hook having a gripping end and a bearing end, wherein the bearing end is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the locking hook such that the locking hook is movable between closed and opened positions; 
 a driving apparatus having a driving arm and a crank mechanism, wherein the crank mechanism has a crank that is arranged eccentric to an axis of rotation and is rotationally adjustable around the axis of rotation, wherein the crank is connected with the driving arm such that the crank actuates the driving arm while rotating around the axis of rotation, wherein the driving arm is configured to drive the locking hook to move the locking hook between the closed and opened positions upon the driving arm being actuated by the crank; and 
 a sensor configured to cooperate with the crank mechanism to sense when the locking hook is in the closed and opened positions; 
 wherein the crank mechanism further includes a crank plate that is rotationally adjustable around the rotation axis, wherein the crank is mounted on the crank plate; 
 wherein the sensor includes a switching gate arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the crank plate and first and second switches arranged on the housing fixed in position at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction of the crank plate; 
 wherein the switching gate actuates the first switch when the locking hook is in the closed position and actuates the second switch when the locking hook is in the opened position; 
 wherein the switching gate is sickle shaped and is arranged on the crank plate lying opposite with respect to the rotation axis of the crank. 
 
     
     
       13. A vehicle assembly comprising:
 a movable folding top; and 
 a locking apparatus having a housing, a locking hook, a driving apparatus, and a sensor; 
 wherein the locking hook has a gripping end and a bearing end, wherein the bearing end is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the locking hook such that the locking hook is movable between closed and opened positions; 
 wherein the driving apparatus has a driving arm and a crank mechanism, wherein the crank mechanism has a crank that is arranged eccentric to an axis of rotation and is rotationally adjustable around the axis of rotation, wherein the crank is connected with the driving arm such that the crank actuates the driving arm while rotating around the axis of rotation, wherein the driving arm is configured to drive the locking hook to move the locking hook between the closed and opened positions upon the driving arm being actuated by the crank; 
 wherein the sensor is configured to cooperate with the crank mechanism to sense when the locking hook is in the closed and opened positions; 
 wherein the locking apparatus and the folding top are arranged such that the locking hook locks the folding top in position when the locking hook is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       14. The vehicle assembly of  claim 13  wherein:
 the crank mechanism further includes a crank plate that is rotationally adjustable around the rotation axis, wherein the crank is mounted on the crank plate; 
 wherein the sensor includes a switching gate arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the crank plate and first and second switches arranged on the housing fixed in position at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction of the crank plate; 
 wherein the switching gate actuates the first switch when the locking hook is in the closed position and actuates the second switch when the locking hook is in the opened position. 
 
     
     
       15. The vehicle assembly of  claim 14  wherein:
 the switching gate has an outer contour between first and second peripheral ends; 
 wherein the first peripheral end actuates the first switch when the locking hook is in the closed position and the second peripheral end actuates the second switch when the locking hook is in the opened position. 
 
     
     
       16. The vehicle assembly of  claim 14  wherein:
 the outer contour is offset coaxially and radially inwardly compared to an outer contour of the crank plate. 
 
     
     
       17. The vehicle assembly of  claim 14  wherein:
 the switching gate is sickle shaped and is arranged on the crank plate lying opposite with respect to the rotation axis of the crank. 
 
     
     
       18. The vehicle assembly of  claim 14  wherein:
 the driving arm is mounted pivotably on the crank around a vertical pivot axis and the driving arm has a nose that protrudes radially with respect to the vertical pivot axis; 
 wherein the housing includes a stop; 
 wherein the nose of the driving arm rests against the stop of the housing when the locking hook is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       19. The vehicle assembly of  claim 18  wherein:
 the switching gate includes a recess on an inner contour facing toward the axis of rotation into which the nose of the driving arm dips into when the locking hook is in the opened position.